Slip into something more festive

I once knew a family that had a delightful tradition: When it was someone’s birthday, the other members of the family would decorate an ordinary chair, turning it into a spectacular throne. The birthday king or queen sat in this chair to be served cake, receive presents and generally relish in the tribute paid by his or her “subjects.” It was silly, fun, and everyone enjoyed playing along as much as they enjoyed having a turn.

As a designer, I particularly love creating things for the home that help us bring more delight into our everyday lives. This is what I mean when I say, “Embellish your life!” And this month’s project will help you do exactly that.

Inspired by the spirit of the birthday chair tradition, let’s embellish a slipcover with hand-painted designs. Slipcovers make it easy to change the look of a room in a snap. Whether you’re looking to celebrate a special occasion or just freshen your décor, they can help you remember that with a creative approach to decorating, you can feel like royalty any day of the year.

To create the style you see in the accompanying photograph, use a pencil and ruler to draw diagonal lines 11/2 inches apart across the seat of the chair to create a diamond pattern.

Mix one-part fabric medium with one-part artist color. (I used ivory black for my slipcover.) Using the No. 2 round paintbrush and paint mixture, outline the diagonal lines then paint a three-stroke design in the center of each diamond.

Paint a border design along the skirt of the chair. You may find it easier to paint if you place a piece of cardboard under the section of the skirt you’re working on. If you prefer to follow a pattern, use tracing paper and transfer paper to apply the design of your choice to the skirt, then paint over it.

Paint a swirl border along the top of the slipcover to embellish the back of the chair.

To avoid smearing your designs as you work, allow each section of the slipcover to dry thoroughly before moving on to another section.

One variation on this project is to start with a slipcover for a sofa or easy chair. For a custom dining room set, paint table linens with the same designs you use on the slipcover.

Dena Fishbein hosts the television show “Embellish This!” aired monthly on the DIY Network. To ask her how to embellish anything, e-mail her at dena@denadesigns.com or visit www.diynetwork.com.